The Animal Show » Drake

Mashing Drake Up

Edward — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:40:28 +0000

such a nice boy.

As Young Money and Degrassi devotees alike are no doubt aware, thespian-cum-rhymist Drake released his freshman effort Thank Me Later a week ago. Critically, it was given an almost universal “okay,” with many reviews heralding it as the first real effort in the changed world of hip-hop coming about post 808s and Heartbreaks. This is going a little overboard. Drake is not going to change your life. He’s thankfully less of a sad-sack than his contemporary (and arguably the true follower of 808s) Kid Cudi, but the album has fewer gems than the 3 smashes on Man on the Moon. It’s a lethargic slog, sort of like 808s, but without the same innovative production that is Kanye’s bag. The lone stand-out is the track Kanye produced, “Over,” which benefits from a Lupe-inspired backing track that grabs you by the throat and pounds forward with alternating Love Lockdown drumline beat and orchestral sweeps. The others need some work.

The same could be said of many of Drake’s mixtape tracks from the runup to Thank Me Later. Luckily, there are mashup producers who can do just that. And, luckily, I’m bringing them straight to your ears. The first is an older track, brought to you courtesy of longtime Animal Show favorites, The Hood Internet, who have cooked up a masterpiece with their combination of Drake and Free Energy. Then an interesting idea, combining Coldplay’s “Strawberry Swing” (my favorite off of Viva La Vida, and whose music video still rules) with last year’s megahit jam “Best I Ever Had.” The combination teeters on the edge of absurdity, but is ultimately saved based almost purely on the merits of each song individually, and makes for a fun listen. Check ‘em out as you celebrate another amazing American World Cup goal taken back by terrible officiating!

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(This Shit Was) All I Know [Drake v. Free Energy] – The Hood Internet (YSI)

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The Best Strawberry – Drake v. Coldplay (YSI)

Will Heartbeats Ever Flat Line?

dfjacobs — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:00:53 +0000

Whether due to highly flammable vocals, otherworldly beats or the mere presence of Weezy, certain songs are simply mashup gold. Recently I used the phrase “mashup darling” to describe Down’s “Lean Like A Cholo,” and surely any track by Jigga or the Young Money inmate would also fit the bill. However, the apotheosis of this phrase is undoubtedly The Knife’s “Heartbeats.” The first track off the Swedish duo’s sophomore album Deep Cuts is an astounding combination of poignant lyricism and an infectious beat. The song manages to be both haunting and explosive; a lethal blend that makes it irresistible to a wide-range of listeners (and mashup artists).

In addition to popular covers by Jose Gonzalez as well as Scala & Kolacny Brothers, I discovered six different mashups featuring the track in my iTunes library. While this may only confirm my consistent taste and overwhelmingly large music collection, I believe it’s also a testament to the far-reaching appeal of “Heartbeats.” With mashes by A-Trak and E-603, featuring the likes of Drizzy, Yeezy, M.I.A. and Grizzly Bear, the variations of “Heartbeats” feature some of the best in the business. To evaluate the tracks, I channeled the Sports Guy (that’s Bill Simmons you hipsters) and created a pyramid to illustrate their varying levels of success.

Level 1 a.k.a. “the flyest of the fly” features A-Trak’s “Get ‘Em High (Remix)” and POTAMIC’s “The Way Heartbeats (Eminem vs. The Knife).” Both mashups take similar approaches; introduce incredible rap verses to the contagious “Heartbeats,” let them get to know each other, and watch the sweet harmonious love-making that ensues.

Level 2 a.k.a. “still fly with unforgivable shortcomings” includes, E-603’s “Bittersweet Heartbeats,” DJ Topcat’s “Paper Heartbeats (M.I.A. vs. The Knife),” and Press Play Deejay’s “Heartbeats Forever (Drake vs. The Knife).” E-603’s Something For Everyone hit finds itself in Level 2 due to it’s lesser quality, but more importantly because of Mr. Ward’s prolonged failure to accept my Facebook friend request (I mean seriously, what’s a brotha gotta do?). DJ Topcat’s mashup finds itself demoted to Level 2 because the “Paper Planes” beat is far too incredible to ever be removed. And finally Press Play Deejay’s cardinal sin is the removal of Eminem’s career-saving verse. Lebron tell Press Play what’s up.

Level 3’s a.k.a. “great song choices but half-ass combination” sole member is PARRKA’s “Knife/Heartbeats (Grizzly Bear vs. The Knife). I love both songs, and especially the witty wordplay of “Knife” vs. the Knife (that’s sharp, aaand boom goes the dynamite). However, PARRKA tries too hard to let both lead and in the end, neither song benefits. Perhaps because they are too similar, the tracks never truly unite and instead amount to an inept 5+ minute mishap.

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Get ‘Em High (A-Trak Remix) – Kanye West (YSI)

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The Way Heartbeats (Eminem vs. The Knife) – POTAMIC (YSI)

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Bittersweet Heartbeats – E-603 (YSI)

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Paper Heartbeats (M.I.A. vs. The Knife) – DJ Topcat (YSI)

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Heartbeats Forever (Drake vs. The Knife) – Press Play Deejay (YSI)

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Knife/Heartbeats (Grizzly Bear vs. The Knife) – PARRKA (YSI)

Mash Update

dfjacobs — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:00:07 +0000

Spring Breakin' like a champ

With spring break in the air, I needed some television that could match my enthusiasm for warm weather and poor decision-making. As my now permanently Cheetos stained fingers explored the current bill of fare, I found my way to the holy grail of spring break programming, the ‘Fist Pumpin’ Top 20 w/ Jersey Shore’. Watching the Jersey Shore to celebrate spring break is like listening to Justin Bieber to commemorate NAMBLA day. And for me, seeing tequila drenched, scantily clad women means only one thing, of course, it’s mashup time.

Let’s start with The Hood Internet, who has been terrifyingly hit or miss of late, but have returned to form and mixed some classic Big L rhymes with Bibio. Big L, in his coolest collaboration since this sweet tee, sounds at home atop Bibio’s experimental electronica. By the way, anyone feeling their fancies tickled by Bibio’s stellar synth sound should check out his 2009 release Ambivalence Avenue, a great album that did not receive its proper dues.

Next is The White Panda who threw together mashup darling “Lean Like A Cholo” with Two Door Cinema Club. The White Panda put the chic rock sound of Two Door Cinema Club behind everyone’s favorite ode to Mexican gangsters. The most common side effect of this combination is ear euphoria, and in rare cases, bowel incontinence.

Moving right along we have T.H.I.’s “How Purple Can You Go.” This mash removed the disgusting futuristic garbage from Luda’s “How Low” and instead backed it up with Joker & Ginz’s “Purple City.” This track finally does Mr. Bridges’s flow justice with a first-rate beat.

Lastly I leave you with the Show’s favorite masher, E-603. Even if Sir E can’t accept my friend request, his skillz that killz have been described by commentators (me) as “Glenn Beck crazy”. He posted this track and a subsequent message on facebook describing how he had the song stuck in his head, so he naturally made an exceptionally cool remix to blow our minds. As is par for the king of the 603, he tore this track up. That’s all I’ve got for now, so turn up all these jams and enjoy spring break Snooki style, even if you’re stuck on your couch.

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Dwrcan ‘Em Up (Big L x Bibio) – The Hood Internet (YSI)

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A Cholo You Know – The White Panda (YSI)

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How Purple Can You Go – The Hood Internet (YSI)

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Money To Blow (feat. Drake and Lil Wayne) (E-603 Remix) – Birdman (YSI)

Top 5 Mashups of 2009

Edward — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:04:16 +0000

It’s alright. You can lean back from the edge of your seat. Our year-end lists are coming to their long, drawn-out conclusion in the form of our favorite mashes of 2009. It was certainly the year of the long-form mashup, with not one but two fantastically different and perfectly executed albums dropping, both of which placed in our favorite albums.

The list sort of reads like it was intended to just be our favorite Hood Internet tracks, but I’m going to go ahead and blame that on the fact that there is no one out there executing as effectively or consistently as those guys, and I really do think they’ve earned all 3 of the spots on this list (and I should probably mention that my own list had “Comfortable Up In Here” filling out the #5 spot, so I’m certainly 100% behind anything and everything Hood releases). Anyway, enjoy, and then help me in looking forward to 2010’s exciting first quarter releases.

#5: Hathaway – “Party and Bullshit in the USA” – There are some mashups that exist only out of the hilarity of their titles — in fact, for a long time, that was what I thought the most of mashups were, due mainly to icebergxc’s constantly asking me (way back in 07) if I’d heard “Walking in Memphis Down The Boulevard of 99 Broken Problems” or “Kiss You Through the Bananaphone” or “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Panther” — and this one certainly exists out of the merits of its overlapping titles. The strange part is that it works. Really well. Maybe it’s because everyone loves the synth backing of “Party in the USA” or we all like to shout “I’m a bad boy” along with Biggie. Or both. Sometimes, though, it’s best not to question, and to instead complacently enjoy “could you be kicked, pushed, loved, and then take on me while running so far away.” – Edward

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Hathaway – Party And Bullshit in the USA (YSI)

#4: The Hood Internet – “Cult Logic Forever” – This is a great mashup without a hint of kitsch. “Forever,” on its own, is a disappointment. It’s got the right rappers, but the beat wrecks it mercilessly with sirens and other garbage noise. Stripping the mess off and bringing it up to speed with some talented instrumental from Miike Snow was the best thing that has ever happened to it. Now it’s as smooth as it is sharp and hangs together tighter than BFFs sharing a straightjacket. – icebergxc

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The Hood Internet – Cult Logic Forever (YSI)

#3: The Hood Internet – “Make The Loop Say Aye” — I’ll admit it: I was one of the Vampire Weekend fanboys who nearly peed his pants the first time he heard “Osaka Loop Line.” I thought Discovery’s LP was going to be my favorite album of 2009. And I swear to god, the tattoo pen was not inches from my upper thigh when I finished the cd for the first time and realized that it was definitely not ink-worthy. But, as the saying goes, those that can’t do teach. And those who don’t know that “who” is the personal pronoun probably shouldn’t be calling others inept. And those who may not have the force to sustain your interest on their own ought to be mashed up. Yes, the song ruled on its own. But this was the late-inning pep-talk it needed. In October, long after I had grown tired of Discovery (although the fantastically polyrhythmic “So Insane” even to this day continues to impress me), I heard this for the first time, and my faith was restored. The Hood Internet perfectly match breaks and builds in every song they assemble, though this may showcase it the best. Beauty, grace, Ms. Mashup #3 of 2009, ladies and gents. – Edward

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The Hood Internet – Make the Loop Say “Aye” (YSI)

#2: The Hood Internet – “Two Weeks of Hip-Hop” — As Matthew Whipple of the 2009 breakout Cymbals Eats Guitars said, “[“Two Weeks” is] pure ear candy… what a song… I want to be Chris Taylor’s bass line.” So when the Hood Internet’s ABX threw Dead Prez over one of the best songs of the year, chaos ensued in the form of “Two Weeks of Hip Hop.” The opening features two of my favorite intros of all time, the now classic keyboard progression of “Two Weeks” and Dead Prez yelling, “it’s bigger than hip hop, hip hop, hip hop.” The track seamlessly combines genres in a strikingly natural fashion, one which I believe Ethan Ward once said was the ideal goal of mashups (clearly he’s the freaking authority on this matter). A few of my stunningly brainless friends even believed “Two Weeks of Hip Hop” to be the original (don’t fear, I no longer associate with those morons). But in their defense, this is because the two wildly disparate tracks come together like Ben & Jerry’s delicious and all-natural Half Baked to create earth-shattering awesomeness. -DFJacobs

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The Hood Internet – Two Weeks of Hip-Hop (YSI)

#1: E-603 – “If You Wanna” — On ‘If You Wanna’, international superstar E-603 saves a potentially generic mash-up affair from mediocrity by adding the only possible ironic element to a mash-up: a narrative. Mash-ups and bootleg, by definition, are anti-narrative, deconstructing source texts and transforming them into a work that is based in pure aesthetics. Taking a vocal sample and chopping out pieces and parts, as E-603 does at the beginning of the track, leaves you with nothing but a glorified DJ set. But by adding the song long crescendo, ending with the full story of City High’s gritty ‘What Would You Do?’, the song develops a more full structure that leaves the listener in awe of E-603’s ability to create true songs, rather than mere mash-ups. Bringing the song’s two distinct parts together is a fantastic showcase of technical ability, in what one internet critic called, “some of the most fluid mixing I’ve heard.” A sublime track in itself, it is by far the most accurate representation of E-603’s mature mash-up opus.- Marquis Meowmers

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E-603 – If You Wanna (YSI)

Top 10 Songs of 2009

Edward — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:27:39 +0000

It’s time to refocus, kids. Yes, we’re all excited that it’s finally 2010 and Lost will be returning soon and that maybe the Apple tablet will be released and hovercrafts, etc. But the Show is not done looking back. No, in vintage .org form, we have returned to the task at hand much later than promised. I would make another promise to continue to post regularly, but I don’t make promises I can’t keep (New Year’s Resolution 20-10, y’all). Today we bring you our 10 favorite songs of 09, and tomorrow you’ll get our favorite mashups. It was one smash-banger of a year, and I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say I miss the hell out of it. Oasis, you may be gone, but you will never be forgotten. You and I are gonna live forever, Noel. Team Noel forever. Liam can go straight to h-e-double-hell.

Oh, and here are the songs we liked:

#10: Drake – “Best I Ever Had”

The best thing about the year-end lists, in my opinion, is that it often gives us a chance to talk about guilty pleasures we would otherwise be too embarrassed to share. By my count, there are 3 such songs on this list; I’m writing about 2 of them. Drake has it all, ladies and gentlemen: the blessing of Lil’ Wayne and Kanye, the sort of street cred attainable only by appearing as a regular character on Degrassi: The Next Generation, and a voice that could make angels shit their pants (do angels wear pants?). “Best I Ever Had” is derivative, it’s repetitive, and it will stay with you, so that whenever anyone does anything you appreciate you find yourself saying (depending on whether you favor the radio-friendly version, or, like this foul-mouthed writer, the real version), “you da fuckin’ best” in your best Drizzy voice. It’s a hot jam, and leads me to believe that the R. Kelly signature only-somewhat-subtly-sexual-song approach to music may actually be the apex of musical composition. -Edward

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Drake – Best I Ever Had (YSI)

#9: Grizzly Bear – “While You Wait for the Others”

There are many reasons why a song is the most popular song off of the album, and many times, they are not the same reasons why a song is the best song off of the album. But, in the case of “While You Wait For The Others,” these reasons do seem to be in concert. I’ll explain. Veckatimest is a very good album. What keeps it from greatness is an inability to put together all of their skills—good orchestration, dynamic contrast, catchy melody—in the same song on a consistent basis. Incidentally, these are the same reasons that many songs get radio play, because put together, these traits form a sweeping melody with emotion to carry it along. “While You Wait For The Others” is one of the few places where Grizzly Bear gets it all together, and it sounds great. It makes it the best song off of a good album, radio worthy, and shoo in for top ten tracks of the year. -Dave

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Grizzly Bear – While You Wait for the Others (YSI)

#8: Edward Sharpe and Magnetic Zeros – “Home”

Look at them in that picture. They’re so happy! All that energy and excitement you see in that picture, I feel in this song. The driving backbeat under whistling and trumpets give the feeling of trekking over previously unchartered territory, but Edward Sharpe and the gang are willing to take you along for the ride. You’re in the wagon, and they tell you a story with folksy honesty, evident from the girl/boy interplay to the less-is-more philosophy in the simple chorus of, “Home/Let me go home/Home is wherever I’m with you.” You tap your feet, hum along, sing along, and before you know it, you’re smiling. “Home” is a prescription dose of happy pills shot right through your ear canals into your brain, and while you’re smiling, you’re thinking that there’s nothing wrong with that. -Dave

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Edward Sharpe and Magnetic Zeros – Home (YSI)

#7: The Black Eyed Peas – “I Gotta Feelin’”

This song is completely retarded! But you knew that already; negative reviews, serious and comedic, abound for this track. Its inclusion in this list is thanks to the uncanny way that it touches any listener with the same reassuring and convincing message: tonight IS going to be a good night. Just watch the Oprah season opener again with any individual middle-aged or better — they’ve seen it already — and observe them boogie modestly to the inescapable beat. While you’re at it, notice that the Peas lack talent as live performers, but immediately forgive them because they gave the world a song that delivers unfailingly the message that it is now time to party. -Icebergxc

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Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feelin’ (YSI)

#6: Girls – “Lust For Life”

Late in 2009, Edward sent me a message that was like “hey have you heard of Girls you tend to like things that people desribe as ‘jangly’ so you might like this.” I was like “well yeah I’ve heard of Girls they’re all over Pitchfork’s best new everything list how could I not have heard of Girls numbnuts?” But the problem was, while I had heard of Girls I had not heard Girls. And so I went and got myself a copy of The Animal Show’s 8th favorite album of the year, ‘Album’. I listened to it. And the first thing I said to Edward after hearing the album in it’s entirety was ‘man, I wish they had just released a 7″ EP of Girls/Laura.” And that’s because every track after “Lust For Life” is totally forgettable due to “Lust For Life”’s greatness. You hear it, and its catchy jangling guitars rip apart any want or will to hear anything else. You must hear the bizarre croon of Christopher Owens over and over again as he sings about the harsh reality that clashes with our most desirable dreams. You must feel the beams of sun hit your face again and again as you travel about in San Franciso’s Mission District. And right as the repetitive garage-surf riffs start to get slightly annoying, the song jumps off the pool deck and into an aquatic sounding, finger-picked soft outro. Simply sublime. -Marquis Meowmers

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Girls – Lust for Life (YSI)

#5: Miley Cyrus – “Party in the USA”

Could every person who has never lost their voice singing to this at a party please raise their hand? If you’re raising your hand, congratulations, you probably look like a moron. I hope nobody’s watching. The nice thing about “Party in the USA” was that it was a guilty pleasure you didn’t have to hide. Everyone loved this song. Everyone loves this song. Everyone will continue to love this song. Oldies stations will devote entire hour-long blocks to this song in 2020, and we’ll still be sad when the hour’s up. This song reminded us that it’s cool to love our country. We stood and saluted Wal-Mart, KFC, and liposuction, and the tears rolled silently down our cheeks. We danced pantsless around a fire of Dixie Chicks albums, and we were glad. We tea-partied, surged, and gave shout-outs to God in our tweets. We stuck our thumbs in our belt-loops and hootenanied like there was no tomorrow. It was a damn good year, and it’s all thanks to Miley. (Oh, and also the poor nameless male-pattern-baldness sap stuck somewhere in a 1960’s office building who wrote the song under the flickering hum of a flourescent light.) We salute y’all. -Edward

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Miley Cyrus – Party in the USA (YSI)

#4: Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”

As a New Yorker, Jigga’s unendingly epic ode to the greatest city in the world was an integral part of my year. Getting to blast, “Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous than the Yankees can/ You should know I bleed blue but I ain’t a crip though” as I popped bottles to celebrate the Yankees was a fantastic gift. Who cares if it was played at Game 2, the ticker-tape parade, every other NYC event, and on every radio station in the country 237 times too many. Does that detract from how incredible it is? No way. This track has too many extraordinary rhymes to be ignored, from “Mommy took a bus trip and now she got her bust out/ Everybody ride her, just like a bus route” all the way to “MDMA got you feeling like a champion/The city never sleeps better slip you a Ambien.” Not to mention how Alicia Keys belts the inspired chorus, and Stephen Colbert’s rap debut for “Empire State of Mind Part 2″. All in all, this song will forever be associated with ’09 and its ass-kicking greatness. – DFJacobs

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Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind (YSI)

#3: Kid Cudi featuring Kanye West and Common – “Make Her Say”

Every facet of the hella hot “Make Her Say” screams best rap song of the year. The beat, like the song itself, is catchy and imaginative, improving upon everyone’s favorite Lady, the Gagski. Cudi’s supporting cast is top notch with Kanyeezy and Common spitting sweltering hot verses. And while both are impressive, Kanye’s submission is possibly his best since he signed up late for college. “I’ve got seniority with the sorority/ so that explains why I love college/ getting brains in the library ‘cause I love knowledge” and “fuck the bus, the Benz is parked like Rosa(osa)” explode out of his mouth and into your ear like one of Weezy’s hand guns (too soon?). “Make Her Say” was indubitably one of the more iconic and quintessential 2009 songs, and is more than worthy of its place near the top this list. – DFJacobs

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Kid Cudi ft. Kanye West & Common – Make Her Say (YSI)

#2: Phoenix – “1901″

Tainted as it was late in the year by its appearance in a Cadillac commercial, 1901 shines as an anthem. When it first dropped, many were predicting that it would be one of the big songs of the summer. However, by avoiding a seasonal meteoric rise, it has settled into a hot slow burn that will keep it fresh for a long time to come, despite its dangling above death by advertisement. – Icebergxc

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Phoenix – 1901 (YSI)

#1: Animal Collective – “My Girls”

Are you shocked? If you don’t like this song it’s probably because, “hey it’s pretty good but it just got overplayed” which is my own pretentious diatribe about brilliant songs that get too popular, and thus are not cool to like anymore (’Paper Planes’, I’m sorry). So, yeah, Animal Collective isn’t making ‘Sung Tongs’ anymore. Bummer. And everyone (and I mean everyone) likes them now. Bummer. But you have to face the truth at some point: bands that are THIS good will almost certainly get mainstream exposure sooner or later. In the animal kingdom that is popular music, bands can either evolve or die. Part of evolving is exposure. And, yup, Animal Collective evolved. But what they haven’t evolved into is shitty husk of their former greatness, crapping out the same mediocre money maker after the other. Instead, Animal Collective has evolved into an unstoppable pop machine capable of ruling the earth with an iron fist of infectious rhythms, catchy hooks, and brilliant song composition.

The first time I heard ‘My Girls’ was when it was inexplicably leaked on various blogs and music forums in the waning weeks of 2008. Having spent a solid month or two checking the internet twice a day for MPP leaks (and getting Rick Roll’d not once, but twice in the process), I finally got a hit around December 14th. I found a stream of ‘My Girls’ on a message board, and naturally, I listened to it. And then I listened to it again. And again. The first time had access to ‘My Girls’, I listened to it so many times that I was 20 minutes late to my first class. And then, in between classes, I listened to it two more times. Why? BECAUSE IT WAS THAT FUCKING GOOD. I wrote about it in my personal blog. I claimed that ‘My Girls’ would be the best song of 2009. And here we are. The best song of 2009.

I shouldn’t have to describe this song to you. You’ve heard it. You’ve rated it a ‘5′ on your iTunes, favorited it on you Last.FM, and clicked the ‘heart’ button next to it on HypeMachine. It was on every mixtape you gave to your crush, you heard it 5 times a day on your college radio station, and it got played at least thrice at every party you went to. It’s just that kind of song. The infectious bass brings together the layers of electronic melody in an amalgamation of ‘experimental sub-cultural capital’ and ‘pop accessibility’. In other words, this song has something for everyone: the synth nerd, the lyrics freak, the girl who ‘just wants to dance’, the guy who is trying to get with her, and all those people who have “everything” listed under the ‘music’ section of the Facebook ‘About Me’ page. And it’s because they all love this fucking song, regardless of whether or not it’s for the same reason you love it. So go ahead, scoff a little bit and then give it another listen. You and I both know it wont be your last. -Marquis Meowmers

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Animal Collective – My Girls (YSI)

We Should All Be So Lucky to Find Something in This World That Makes Us This Catchy

Edward — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:01:47 +0000

You son of a bitch.

It’s been a long, hard fight, but I’m giving up. You win this time, Owl City. Your shittastic, Postal Service-ripoff top-10 single “Fireflies” has bored a hole through my skull and penetrated the deepest recesses of my cranium. The meaningless lyrics of the song will continue to worm their way through the soft gray mass there until I’m so numb to overpopularity that I’ll round up a group of friends to record a webcam tribute video to “I’m On A Boat” and put in on youtube under the username ***<3TEAMJACOB!OREDWARD!ICAN’TMAKEUPMYMIND,YA’LL!<3***

I’ve read enough Sophocles wikiquotes to know that it’s my sad fate to kick against the pricks for the remainder of my drudge-working mortal existence. Well, this time I’ve lost. Pricks: 1; Edward: 0. But I’m not raking out my eardrums yet.

Here’s the thing: I can’t make “Fireflies” cease to be catchy. It’s like telling NBC’s hit sitcom F-R-I-E-N-D-S (now in syndication on TBSveryfunny) to stop being so HILARIOUS. “Joey ordered two pizzas?? For himself??? I can hardly eat a pizza by myself!!! Even if my cats help!!!!!! THIS IS SO FUNNY.” In a lot of ways the show and song are very similar: they’re like the Olsen twins, especially because one noticed that her career was over and died (RIP MKO). I loved the Postal Service and Friends with equal passion in 2003, but then 2004 rolled around we were all like “Go Sox!” or whatever. But here’s the harsh light of day: we can’t all watch Joey for the rest of our prick-kicking lives. The seasons go round and round, and we wonder why that’s the only Joni Mitchell song our friends know.

So, this is what is: we’ll indulge for a little. Then we’ll pretend like this song never happened. I’ve provided a few transition songs, including my favorite mashup of fall 2009, “Cult Logic Forever,” and my favorite remix of the final days of August from this past summer. Enjoy. But consider yourselves warned. You’re entering into highly contagious musical territory.

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Fireflies – Owl City (YSI)

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Cult Logic Forever (Drake feat. Kanye West & Lil Wayne vs. Miike Snow) – The Hood Internet (YSI)

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Waking Up In Vegas (Calvin Harris Extended Remix) – Katy Perry (YSI)

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Swedish Fish

dfjacobs — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:20:15 +0000

The Sweet Nectar of Corn Syrup

As I sit patiently at the computer, waiting for the clock to strike midnight so that I can finally get my hands on Battle Studies (see bonus track, Bruce favorite “I’m On Fire”), I listen to the harmonious sounds of Scandinavia. If I told my parents I was listening to the sweet sounds of Sweden, they’d immediately assume I was being serenaded by 70’s pop sensation ABBA or possibly the Cardigans. And while ABBA is great (Yeah I said it, what? Listen to “Does Your Mother Know” and tell me they’re not classy), Sweden has a new generation of musical luminaries, who happen to be far more respectable to the average hipster than their predecessors.

The young Swedish indie elite include the likes of Lykke Li, Jens Lekman and Miike Snow (and many more, most notably Air France and Robyn). Ms. Li who is featured on many classics such as N.A.S.A’s “Gifted,” Drake’s “Little Bit” and, of course, her critically drooled over LP, Youth Novel. While I almost passed along Youth Novel’s hit single “I’m Good, I’m Gone,” which really is quite grand, I’ll leave you with a more recent release, the Rodeo remix of Kings of Leon’s “Knocked Up,” which is taken to the next level by the Swedish gem.

Jens Lekman, perhaps my favorite of the Swedish Phish (Woah, pun fiesta), quickly wins over any hipster who snags a copy of Night Falls Over Kortedala. His unmistakable voice coupled with a big band creates infectious and brilliant tracks. On “A Postcard to Nina,” he sings about meeting a pen pal for the first time in Germany. I won’t ruin the song, but suffice to say, the lyrics tell a hilarious, Larry David-esque story. His encounter with the girl’s father is so awkward, culminating in the moment when, “I put my hands on a metal object/ He jokes and tells me it’s a lie detector.” It’s a creatively crafted song with fantastic horns and a dreamlike introduction. And, for those of you itching for more of “Lekman the Lethario,” check out “The Opposite of Hallelujah” and “Your Arms Around Me,” both off of Night Falls Over Kortedala.

Finally, Miike Snow has been receiving quite a bit of press, in addition to a plethora of samples (see “Cult Logic Forever” by the Hood Internet). The producers turned artists of Miike Snow have not been receiving the same love from the critics as their country woman Ms. Li, but in their defense, who even reads Pitchfork anymore? Snow dominated the hypemachine for a long while, proving that the blogosphere’s wannabe elite do not always speak for listeners everywhere (full disclosure: I am an avid reader of Pitchfork and quite often a big fan). As all of you readers remember, Edward has already given you their outstanding “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance” remix, as well as their hit “Animal.” So, I’m going to combine the two, and give you the Crookers remix to “Animal” (Both a remix and an “Animal”). A decent song in its own right, Crookers steps it up to turn this track into a keeper, just like they did with Kudi’s “Day n Nite”.

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Knocked Up (Lykke Li vs. Rodeo Remix) – Kings of Leon (YSI)

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A Postcard to Nina – Jens Lekman (YSI)

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Animals (Crookers Remix) – Miike Snow (YSI)

It’s About Time

Edward — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:23:36 +0000

Look who's back

In February of 2008, I received an email from Marquis Meowmers IV, which simply read:

Awesome song just listen not a mash-up just fucking rad.

Also, fuck Georgia and their do-nothing Bulldogs.

I couldn’t tell you what the second line was in reference to (something about a Georgia legislative attempt to annex something or other away from Tennessee, I think), but the first was about a song he had attached, the Wiz Khalifa single “Say Yeah,” a teeth-rattling monster that, in hindsight, should have easily made my Best of 2008 list. What was I thinking? Since then, I’ve been sitting around waiting for new Wiz to be as amazing as that, and have been continually disappointed. But not now.

After a long and tortured battle, Wiz Khalifa’s debut album, Deal or No Deal, is set to be released on November 24th. However, that album won’t include the sickest Wiz track that’s making the blog rounds these days: “The Thrill,” which features pop monsters Empire of the Sun’s “Walking on a Dream,” a song I’m amazed I haven’t posted yet. Maybe I’ll do that soon. But for now, enjoy a few choice songs from Wiz, including “The Thrill” and lead Deal or No Deal single, “This Plane.” And, while you’re here, nab “Say Yeah,” and then consider how divinely inspired the lyrics are:

I’m high and drunk, doing my same dance
They call it Pocahontas, doing that rain dance
Talking dough: I got it, so make it rain man.
Cause the flow retarded, sorta like that rain man

All are hot, but none that hot. Eat ‘em:

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Say Yeah – Wiz Khalifa (YSI)

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The Thrill (feat. Empire of the Sun) – Wiz Khalifa (YSI)

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Ode to Naked Pop Stars (feat. Drake) – Wiz Khalifa (YSI)

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This Plane – Wiz Khalifa (YSI)

REMIXTAPE TIME

Edward — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:17:59 +0000

The Animal Show: occasionally seasonally relevant

“Man, I remember the days when those handsome and incredible intelligent and witty guys over at the Animal Show posted, like, every day.”

Yes, those were the days. Remember when all you had to do to get bombarded by an onslaught of new music was tip your laptop towards your ear after firing up the old Animal Show on your favorite web browser, Netscape Navigator? Back in those days, when John Hughes still roamed the earth, everything still had that new-president sheen. Bloomberg was looking more turtle-like than ever, and Li’l Wayne only seemed like a convict. But I still hold out hope, because sometimes that’s all we have, you know?

It’s been a while since I’ve thrown some remixes at you, so here are a few I’ve been digging recently. These go out to my boy Bish, who reinspired my love of remixes this summer by constantly pumping my veins full of new mixed, chopped, and screwed goodies courtesy of his then-employer, DJ Chachi. He’s just started a blog where he’s been taking us all to remix class, which is definitely worth a click or two.

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Best I Ever Had (Matematics Remix) – Drake (YSI)

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Use Somebody (DJ Slink) – Kings of Leon (YSI)

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We Are Your Your Friends (Barretso Remix) – Justice (YSI)

You Know I'm No Good

Edward — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:32:57 +0000

Set 'em loose on me. I know you wanna.

It’s true — I’ve sunk to a new low. A whole week without fresh new jams comin’ atcha from Showtown. How have you survived? More importantly, why have you survived? Was life worth living without the Show? No, of course not. But I appreciate you muddling.

I wish I had some sort of great excuse for my ignoring you, but I don’t. Except this one: I’m a full-time student, and this job doesn’t pay. At all. Not one shiny penny comes to me. I do it out of the goodness of my own heart. I know, I know — save the thanks for later. Leave the idolizing remarks in the comments section. Now’s not the time. What it is time for, however, are some fresh Spring tunes, guaranteed to make your booty shake and the house quake. Live, from Brunswick Maine, It’s Animal Show time.

The first song I’m going to share with you is the single off Show favorites (and commentors) Super Mash Bros.’ new album, tentatively titled All About the Scrillions, which will be rattling your fillings in early June. The song’s called “Kisses & Thugs,” and it’s making me hungry for more.

Next, I’m going to drop a duo of ground-stomping goodies which I’ve been saving forever: a sweet remix of Santigold’s brilliant “Unstoppable,” featuring Li’l Wayne and Drake. Nuff said. And then there’s a Daft Punk vs. Beastie Boys mash, “Intergalactic Human,” courtesy of DJ Earworm. Nothing new, but a gem nonetheless. So, sorry for the slow April, but we’re still here and we still know how to get down.

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Kisses & Thugs – Super Mash Bros. (megaupload)

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Unstoppable (Remix feat. Lil Wayne & Drake) – Santigold (megaupload)

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Intergalactic Human (Daft Punk vs. Beastie Boys) – DJ Earworm (megaupload)

If you haven’t already, buy Santigold’s album before she changes her name again.